Q: What is Metadata?
A: Metadata is information about data. Metadata records document the who, what, when, where, how, and why of a data resource. Geospatial metadata describes maps, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) files, imagery, and other location-based data resources. As an analogy- imagine lots of tins of food without labels. How do you know what's in it, what the best before date is, who made it, and whether it's fit to eat?
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A: Only if you let them! Metadata records must be explicitly published to make them available to the outside world. You can also assign different privileges to records to make them visible to a select group of people, or to allow some people to edit them.
Q: Can I access metadata stored in a GeoNetwork metadata
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catalog in iShareGIS?
A: A layer in iShareGIS can be linked to it's corresponding metadata record in iShare Studio. Please see Metadata Overview for the information on the initial configuration of iShare Studio to link it to GeoNetwork, and then the method for linking metadata to a layer. Once the metadata is linked, then it is available for viewing via the "omnisearch" bar in iShareGIS, or via the controls for an individual layer.
Q: Are any metadata records stored in iShareGIS?
A: No metadata is stored in iShareGIS, just links to the records, so any updates made to the metadata in the catalog will be reflected in the metadata available in iShareGIS.
Q: What is a CSW Interface?
A: A Catalogue Service for the Web (CSW) is a web service, much like a WFS or WMS, and is the method by which external parties such as data.gov.uk gain access to the metadata. Only metadata that has been explicitly published can be accessed by the CSW service.
Q: How do I configure Studio to access my CSW Interface?
A: There are two steps involved in this process, the first is to configure the WebStudio and MetadataWebService URLs, the second in configuring your CSW end-point.
The first step is done in iShare settings under the 'Master Settings' tab, scroll down to the sub-heading titled 'WebService' and make sure that you have the MetadataWebServiceURL and WebStudioURL configured.
The second step is also found in iShare Master Settings under the sub-heading titled 'Catalogue Service for the Web' where the end-point of your CSW can be entered.
See examples below:
Q: What format do my Metadata records need to be in?
A: The Metadata records in the catalog need to be in UK Gemini 2.2 format, however we can provide methods of transforming from other standards as an optional extra.